Manchester United, have lost at home once again, this time 2-0 to Crystal Palace, and the numbers are enough to keep any fan awake all night. Seven defeats in 13 home games at Old Trafford this season. You have to go back to 1893 to find anything similar. Yes, one hundred and thirty years ago.
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The numbers say it all. But this defeat goes beyond the scoreboard. Ruben Amorim's team wasn't only defeated at home — it dropped to 13th place, overtaken precisely by Crystal Palace. With 29 points, United isn't only far from the leaders but also doesn't show any signs of recovery. The worst? There isn't a glimpse of hope on the horizon.
Ruben Amorim acknowledges: better, but not enough
Ruben Amorim tried to find something positive. He dug here, looked there, but had to ultimately confess: it means nothing to improve if losses continue piling up.
"We improved in some aspects of the game, controlled it better, had more possession, created chances, but in the end, we conceded two avoidable goals."
The coach does glimpse moments of progress, but United's problem is not possession and control of the game; United lacks identity, scores few goals, and they are vulnerable at the back. If that were not enough, one of their few players in whom a degree of grit and leadership shone was now hurt: Lisandro Martínez.
Growing frustration, too, for the coach. Once full of promise, his postmatch speech carried resignation: United had passed the ball more but without efficiency.
This makes United's attack an endless desert. Failing to score turned out to be a worrisome habit, as United was shut out nine times this season, and without any goal difference. An attack that seems to be lost — without confidence but, even worse, without solutions.
Asked whether he felt let down by the hierarchy not bringing in a goal scorer, Amorim replied cagily and with a hint of frustration: "It doesn't mean that if you play with two forwards, you'll score more goals. It's a team problem, and we talk about it all the time."
It may do in terms of tactic, but this seems to forget the obvious fact that Manchester United doesn't have anyone reliable for delivery. There is little expectation from a side that plays with no focal point in attack. Same script.
Same frustration
The most alarming thing about United's current state is the repetitive pattern of mistakes. Every week, it's the same story: a team that starts to show a false sense of control, gets lackadaisical, and inevitably throws the result away.
Amorim was asked why it never changes. His response-irascible and anguished-revealed a coach already feeling the weight of the situation.
"The performance improved, not much, but I think we played better than in other games. But of course, when you keep losing, especially at home, it feels like this small improvement means nothing."
And he's right: slight improvements mean nothing if the losses keep piling up. United is turning into a team that has grown used to losing, and that might just be the biggest problem of all.
The transfer market helps or illusion
With the transfer deadline fast approaching, Manchester United is feeling cornered. The team desperately needs reinforcements but also has a recent history of poor investments. Amorim knows he can’t afford mistakes, but he also can’t afford to sit back.
"We’re trying everything to improve the team without repeating past mistakes."
That sentence alone reveals the problem. United have already wasted money on transfers that did not work out. They need solutions, but the market does not offer easy or cheap options. Bringing in a player out of desperation could be an even bigger mistake.
The question that still remains is: If United don't sign anyone, how will this team react? Because with the current squad, there's nothing to suggest a major turnaround is coming.
It's down to United
Manchester United can't hide behind excuses anymore. The time for promises is over. Fans no longer buy optimistic speeches.
The defeat to Crystal Palace was another chapter in a disaster unfolding week after week. Right now, United has no consistency, no confidence, and worst of all, no clear recovery plan.
If something doesn't change fast, this season might become one of the worst in club history. And when things reach this point, no coach or player can hold off the pressure.
United is standing at the edge of collapse. The question that none can answer-who is to stop this fall?